Category Archives: books

The Girl with the Dragon Heart by Stephanie Burgis

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Katy K.

This is the sequel to The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart, which won the 2017 Cybils award for Middle Grade Speculative Fiction.  It came out in the middle of my 2018 Cybils reading, and was one of the first books … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Peasprout Chen

Posted on March 14, 2019 by Katy K.

The nice thing about reading books that were published earlier in the Cybils cycle is that sometimes the sequel is ready to read very shortly afterward!  Here are a pair of Taiwanese-flavored fantasies, the first of which was one of … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

4 Unique Fantasy Books for Kids

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Katy K.

Seeing as how it’s March already, I’m going to try to finish reviewing all my Cybils books this week, so I can move on to the books I’m reading this year.   Dragonfly Song by Wendy Orr. Pajama Press, 2017. This … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Rose Legacy and The Third Mushroom

Posted on March 4, 2019 by Katy K.

The Rose Legacy by Jessica Day George. Bloomsbury, 2018. Anthea has been raised as an unwanted orphan, shuttled from relative to relative.  (This is just the first chapter, but it was so painful for my daughter, a big fan of … Continue reading →

Posted in Audiobook, books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Sci-Fi | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The House in Poplar Wood and The Boy, the Bird and the Coffin Maker

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Katy K.

Back to the backlog of Cybils books!  Here are two creepy-beautiful stories, both on the shorter side. The House in Poplar Wood  by K.E. Ormsbee. Chronicle Kids, 2018. There are three great shades, all rivals, who take human apprentices in … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged | Leave a comment

A Perilous Journey of Danger & Mayhem: a Dastardly Plot

Posted on February 27, 2019 by Katy K.

A Perilous Journey of Danger & Mayhem: a Dastardly Plot by Christopher Healy. Harper Collins Childrens, 2018. 1883 – It’s the Age of Invention in an alternate New York City.  Molly Pepper is trying to help her mother Cassandra succeed … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Thornbound by Stephanie Burgis

Posted on February 23, 2019 by Katy K.

Stephanie Burgis has a new book in the Harwood Spellbook out on February 25!  Thank you so much to the author for the review copy! Thornbound. The Harwood Spellbook II by Stephanie Burgis. Five Fathoms Press, 2019. Cassandra Harwood overcame … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult, books, Fantasy, Print, Romance | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

2018 Diversity Challenge Final Tally

Posted on February 20, 2019 by Katy K.

In 2018, I did the diversity challenge from Pam at an Unconventional Librarian.  Although she’s a children’s and YA book blogger, I’ve included some of my diverse adult reading as well – I’ll note if that’s the case.  I realized … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Challenges, Lists | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Cybils Middle Grade Graphic Novel Finalists

Posted on February 15, 2019 by Katy K.

The Cybils Award winners were announced yesterday!  So many good books – some I’ve read already and some to add to the TBR!  I’m so happy that Nevermoor: the Trials of Morrigan Crow won in my Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Historical, Middle Grade, Realistic | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Books I Missed in 2018 for Top 10 Tuesday

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Katy K.

Top 10 Tuesday is a blog event hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This is not the official topic for this week’s Top 10 Tuesday.  I have, however, been working on it, slowly, with many interruptions for the past month … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Lists | Tagged , | 7 Comments